How Queen Victoria Influenced Attitudes Regarding Nudity
When Queen Victoria came to power in England in the middle of the nineteenth century, her influence was legendary. Her influence was felt far and wide, reaching into much of Europe and America.Because her royal predecessors were notorious for their sexual escapades, Queen Victoria placed a high value on her idea of moral propriety.
Now, for the first time, the burgeoning middle class begins to identify with their new leader. It was at this point that it became quite unacceptable to be seen in public unclothed, regardless of the reason. This influenced missionaries to distribute clothing to primitive peoples living in tropical climates where clothing was both unnecessary and impractical.After the queen's death in 1901, nudism began to emerge in northern Germany. It gradually spread elsewhere.
Reverend Boone And The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR)
In the United States, the Christian naturism movement began in the late 1920s under the leadership of the Baptist pastor Ilsley Boone. Reverend Boone headed the American Sunbathing Association, which later merged to become the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR).
Nudity At The YMCA
Before the YMCA became co-ed in the early 1960s, men and boys swam completely nude. Since nylon was a relatively new invention at that time, it was feared that allowing swimsuits made of cotton or wool in the pool would clog up their filtration system.
When Queen Victoria came to power in England in the middle of the nineteenth century, her influence was legendary. Her influence was felt far and wide, reaching into much of Europe and America.Because her royal predecessors were notorious for their sexual escapades, Queen Victoria placed a high value on her idea of moral propriety.
Now, for the first time, the burgeoning middle class begins to identify with their new leader. It was at this point that it became quite unacceptable to be seen in public unclothed, regardless of the reason. This influenced missionaries to distribute clothing to primitive peoples living in tropical climates where clothing was both unnecessary and impractical.After the queen's death in 1901, nudism began to emerge in northern Germany. It gradually spread elsewhere.
Reverend Boone And The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR)
In the United States, the Christian naturism movement began in the late 1920s under the leadership of the Baptist pastor Ilsley Boone. Reverend Boone headed the American Sunbathing Association, which later merged to become the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR).
Nudity At The YMCA
Before the YMCA became co-ed in the early 1960s, men and boys swam completely nude. Since nylon was a relatively new invention at that time, it was feared that allowing swimsuits made of cotton or wool in the pool would clog up their filtration system.
